Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
Ezekiel Ch.1 / 48 Ch.s
EZE:1
** Ezekiel was one of the priests; he was carried captive to
Chaldea with Jehoiachin. All his prophecies appear to have been
delivered in that country, at some place north of Babylon. Their
chief object appears to have been to comfort his brethren in
captivity. He is directed to warn of the dreadful calamities
coming upon Judea, particularly upon the false prophets, and the
neighbouring nations. Also to announce the future restoration of
Israel and Judah from their several dispersions, and their happy
state in their latter days, under the Messiah. Much of Christ
will be found in this book, especially in the conclusion.
* Ezekiel's vision of God, and of the angelic host. (1-14) The
conduct of Divine Providence. (15-25) A revelation of the Son of
man upon his heavenly throne. (26-28)
#1-14 It is a mercy to have the word of God brought to us, and a
duty to attend to it diligently, when we are in affliction. The
voice of God came in the fulness of light and power, by the Holy
Spirit. These visions seem to have been sent to possess the
prophet's mind with great and high thoughts of God. To strike
terror upon sinners. To speak comfort to those that feared God,
and humbled themselves. In ver. #4-14|, is the first part of the
vision, which represents God as attended and served by a vast
company of angels, who are all his messengers, his ministers,
doing his commandments. This vision would impress the mind with
solemn awe and fear of the Divine displeasure, yet raise
expectations of blessings. The fire is surrounded with a glory.
Though we cannot by searching find out God to perfection, yet we
see the brightness round about it. The likeness of the living
creatures came out of the midst of the fire; angels derive their
being and power from God. They have the understanding of a man,
and far more. A lion excels in strength and boldness. An ox
excels in diligence and patience, and unwearied discharge of the
work he has to do. An eagle excels in quickness and piercing
sight, and in soaring high; and the angels, who excel man in all
these respects, put on these appearances. The angels have wings;
and whatever business God sends them upon, they lose no time.
They stood straight, and firm, and steady. They had not only
wings for motion, but hands for action. Many persons are quick,
who are not active; they hurry about, but do nothing to purpose;
they have wings, but no hands. But wherever the angels' wings
carried them, they carried hands with them, to be doing what
duty required. Whatever service they went about, they went every
one straight forward. When we go straight, we go forward; when
we serve God with one heart, we perform work. They turned not
when they went. They made no mistakes; and their work needed not
to be gone over again. They turned not from their business to
trifle with any thing. They went whithersoever the Spirit of God
would have them go. The prophet saw these living creatures by
their own light, for their appearance was like burning coals of
fire; they are seraphim, or "burners;" denoting the ardour of
their love to God, and fervent zeal in his service. We may learn
profitable lessons from subjects we cannot fully enter into or
understand. But let us attend to the things which relate to our
peace and duty, and leave secret things to the Lord, to whom
alone they belong.
#15-25 Providence, represented by the wheels, produces changes.
Sometimes one spoke of the wheel is uppermost, sometimes
another; but the motion of the wheel on its own axletree is
regular and steady. We need not despond in adversity; the wheels
are turning round and will raise us in due time, while those who
presume in prosperity know not how soon they may be cast down.
The wheel is near the living creatures; the angels are employed
as ministers of God's providence. The spirit of the living
creatures was in the wheels; the same wisdom, power, and
holiness of God, that guide and govern the angels, by them order
all events in this lower world. The wheel had four faces,
denoting that the providence of God exerts itself in all parts.
Look every way upon the wheel of providence, it has a face
toward you. Their appearance and work were as a wheel in the
middle of a wheel. The disposals of Providence seem to us dark,
perplexed, and unaccountable, yet are all wisely ordered for the
best. The motion of these wheels was steady, regular, and
constant. They went as the Spirit directed, therefore returned
not. We should not have to undo that by repentance which we have
done amiss, if we followed the guidance of the Spirit. The
rings, or rims of the wheels were so vast, that when put in
motion the prophet was afraid to look upon them. The
consideration of the height and depth of God's counsel should
awe us. They were full of eyes round about. The motions of
Providence are all directed by infinite Wisdom. All events are
determined by the eyes of the Lord, which are in every place
beholding the evil and the good; for there is no such thing as
chance or fortune. The firmament above was a crystal, glorious,
but terribly so. That which we take to be a dark cloud, is to
God clear as crystal, through which he looks upon all the
inhabitants of the earth. When the angels had roused a careless
world, they let down their wings, that God's voice might be
plainly heard. The voice of Providence is to open men's ears to
the voice of the word. Sounds on earth should awaken our
attention to the voice from heaven; for how shall we escape, if
we turn away from Him that speaks from thence.
#26-28 The eternal Son, the second Person in the Trinity, who
afterwards took the human nature, is here denoted. The first
thing observed was a throne. It is a throne of glory, a throne
of grace, a throne of triumph, a throne of government, a throne
of judgment. It is good news to men, that the throne above the
firmament is filled with One who appears, even there, in the
likeness of a man. The throne is surrounded with a rainbow, the
well-known emblem of the covenant, representing God's mercy and
covenanted love to his people. The fire of God's wrath was
breaking out against Jerusalem, but bounds should be set to it;
he would look upon the bow, and remember the covenant. All the
prophet saw was only to prepare him for what he was to hear.
When he fell on his face, he heard the voice of One that spake.
God delights to teach the humble. Let sinners, then, humble
themselves before him. And let believers think upon his glory,
that they may be gradually changed into his image by the Spirit
of the Lord.